Street Hockey Rules

Street hockey has similarities to the sport of Ice Hockey. Instead the game is played on foot or roller skates with a ball or puck. The object of the game is shoot the ball or puck into the opposing team’s net. Like Ice Hockey, Street Hockey requires stamina, fast pace, and coordination although despite the similarities between street hockey and its sister sport the main advantage of street hockey is the freedom allowed by playing on outdoor surfaces, very often on the street, parking lots, tennis courts etc. It is believed the game of Street Hockey began in parts of North America however it quickly spread across the world. As it continues to grow in popularity and with the surge of the Winter Olympics it took the world for a spin where we saw betting sites for the first time accepting wagering on the sport.

The PSHL uses a roller-hockey rink to play a game also known as dek-hockey. The game is like out-door floor hockey (ice, and people who know how to use it, are rare in Tucson, Arizona). Each side has five runners and a goaltender; each player uses a stick to direct a small rubber ball. The point is to place that ball in the opposing team’s goal using a hockey stick.

The game is to be played with two teams of equal numbers of players on each side. Up to six players, including the goalie, may be on the rink at one time for one team.

Teams are divided by the colour of their clothing: those with white shirts versus those with coloured or dark shirts. Should that result in an imbalance of skill, players may be traded, as long as an exchange of clothing is arranged as well.

A team is awarded a point if the ball completely crosses the goal line.

There are no blue lines, so there is no neutral zone. The centre line divides defensive ends. The ball may be passed across the centre line in either direction.

Smoking is not permitted on the rink; smokers may light up on the sidelines only.

Players must not be offsides: an attacking player cannot precede the puck into the offensive end.

If the puck leaves the offensive end, attacking players must tag up and return to their defensive end.

If a team is caught offside, it must relinquish possession of the ball.

There is no penalty for icing (dumping the ball from one end to the other), but icing is lame.

Body contact is not encouraged. Hacks of sticks to shins are strongly discouraged.

Stick blades must remain below the level of the smallest person’s shoulders

Fighting has never been attempted and will never be tolerated.

Penalties are assessed on an honor system: if both teams agree, a violator must sit off for an agreed period of time, during which time his or her team is short one player.

Penalties may be assessed for the following infractions: willfully tripping an opposing player, hitting an opponent from behind, hitting an opposing player above the torso with a stick, losing one’s temper.

A goal scored against an interfered-with goalie shall not stand. Attacking players may enter the crease, but may not hinder the movement of the goalie in any way.

The goaltender may cover the ball to obtain a stoppage of play. Such stoppages result in a “free play” for the defending team, a few seconds of unchallenged possession of the ball behind the net.

A team also gives up a free play by sending the ball out-of-bounds. If the ball is sent out of bounds by a defending player, the offensive team will start their free play inside the offensive zone.